Elijah Kelley Movies

A teacher and his students open up new worlds for one another in this urban drama inspired by a true story. Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) is a prize-winning ballroom dancer and instructor from Manhattan who volunteers his services to a high school in one of the roughest neighborhoods in the Bronx. Principal Augustine James (Alfre Woodard) in turn gives Dulaine a tough assignment -- a detention class with some of the biggest troublemakers on campus. When the kids learn that Dulaine intends to teach them how to dance in the classic style, they're incredulous at best and dismissive at worst -- until Dulaine demonstrates his moves for the class. While Dulaine's charges -- including Rock (Rob Brown), LaRhette (Yaya DaCosta), Ramos (Dante Basco), Eddie (Marcus T. Paulk), and Sasha (Jenna Dewan) -- respect his talent, they have their own way of dancing, and as they mix hip-hop moves with ballroom discipline, they create an exciting new style. Dulaine also strives to instill self-confidence and a work ethic in his kids, insisting they can make their way out of the ghetto if they're willing to try. Screenwriter Dianne Houston based Take the Lead on the real-life story of Pierre Dulaine, who taught dance as a volunteer to at-risk students at New York elementary schools. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cal (Joe Renteria), an old friend of Vic's (Michael Chiklis) who owns a restaurant, asks Vic to help him straighten out one of his employees, Cyril (Peter Pasco), who has a drug problem and has apparently disappeared. Vic goes out of his way to help Cal, which has negative repercussions when Cyril's problems turn out to be more serious, and he's involved in a shoot-out while robbing a store. Ben Gilroy (John Diehl, uncredited) turns up dead after apparently living a very rough life in Mexico. Aceveda (Benito Martinez) decides to shut down the AGC sting operation, because Louis (Dominic Hoffman) betrayed them, opening up a new company with seed money from the big clients he warned about the sting. Monica (Glenn Close) decides to offer Louis a deal to set up a new operation at the new company, angering Aceveda, who has not officially stepped down yet. Monica also gets the men's room fixed, and tells Aceveda that she plans to use a new forfeiture plan to seize criminals' assets and auction them off to pay for The Barn's upkeep and donate some cash to local social programs. Shane (Walton Goggins) has been shaking down the pimps and dealers on his beat, and is breaking in a new partner, Armando (Michael Pena of Crash), an Iraq War veteran. Vic confronts Shane about his possible connection to Antwon (Anthony Anderson), which Shane denies. But Vic still has his suspicions. Corrine (Cathy Cahlin Ryan) and Vic consider joining a class-action suit against a vaccine company. Dutch (Jay Karnes) and Claudette (CCH Pounder) bring in a prostitute (Donna Cooper) who's been raped, and Aceveda, still struggling with his own personal trauma, takes a special interest in the case. This episode also includes an uncredited appearance by Katey Sagal as Nancy Gilroy. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide